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Macklemore tackles homophobia

ELEANOR HALL: Hip hop began as the protest music of urban African-Americans and is now one of the world's most popular music styles. But it also attracts criticism as one of the most sexist and homophobic.

So it may surprise you to know that the biggest hip hop song at the moment is about gay rights and it's written by a white, heterosexual male.

The hit's composer, hip hop artist Macklemore, told our reporter David Lewis, that he wrote it to protest against homophobic attitudes within the hip hop community.

(Excerpt from song "Same Love" by Macklemore)

When I was in the third grade I thought that I was gay 'cause I could draw, my uncle was, and I kept my room straight

(End of excerpt)

DAVID LEWIS: Ben Haggerty, better known by his stage name Macklemore, is rapping about stereotypes commonly applied to gay men and women.

It's not exactly the sort of subject matter you'd expect from a hip hop artist but the Seattle-based MC says that's precisely why he chose to write the song, called "Same Love".

MACKLEMORE: Same love was a song that I wanted to write for a long time but I didn't know exactly how to address it - being a straight male. I wasn't sure, how to make a song that addressed homophobia within the hip hop community and the greater world without, you know, without speaking for a group of people who weren't my own.

(Excerpt from song "Same Love" by Macklemore)

I can't change, even if I try.

(End of excerpt)

DAVID LEWIS: You grew up with a gay uncle, how did that shape your views on homosexuality?

MACKLEMORE: Oh, you know, as a young kid I think, you know, questioning my sexuality because I was good at art and I had gay uncles and that equated to me being potentially being gay, as a kid, in my own head.

DAVID LEWIS: Macklemore soon realised that wasn't the case but his experiences as a child made him more aware of homophobia especially in the music he loved.

MACKLEMORE: There's critically acclaimed albums that are completely filled with hateful language and derogatory terms against gay people and no-one's really stuck up against it.

DAVID LEWIS: Accusations of sexism and homophobia have dogged the genre for years.

Eminem has drawn the most criticism perhaps because his mainstream success made him a highly visible target for feminists and gay rights activists.

They accused the star of using highly sexist and homophobic language in his song lyrics.

In an attempt to silence his critics, he performed alongside openly gay pop star Elton John at the 2001 Grammy Awards.

(Eminem and Elton John performing Stan)

Eminem has since publicly stated his support for same-sex marriage but Macklemore says hip hop still has a long way to go.

MACKLEMORE: In hip hop right now, there's so many labels. You know, if anyone comes out as a rapper, they're going to be known as a gay rapper and I don't know if that will go away.

DAVID LEWIS: That's not to suggest gay men and women won't ever be liberated within the hip hop community.

In fact some say it's inevitable, thanks, in part, to this revelation from the US president Barack Obama last year.

BARACK OBAMA: It is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married.

DAVID LEWIS: Hip hop heavyweight Jay Z was quick to support the president's position but Macklemore says musicians have a responsibility to do more.

(Question to Macklemore) Do you believe that music has the power to influence social and political change and if so is that what you would like to do with your own music?

MACKLEMORE: Absolutely. There is a level of responsibility I think for artists to push themselves to dig deeper. It's about using that power for good.

(Excerpt from song "Same Love" by Macklemore)

And a certificate on paper isn't gonna solve it all, but it's a damn good place to start.